CINCINNATI -- Zach Duke hasn't thrown a pitch for the Pirates in five years. However, their former left-hander may have just thrown a lifeline to the Bucs' pennant-stretch pitching staff.
Joe Blanton was an ex-Major League pitcher late last fall when his new neighbor in Nashville, Tenn., went looking for someone to throw to.
Blanton, who thought he'd taken his last windup when he was released in mid-April 2014 by the Athletics after two starts for their Triple-A club, told Duke, "I'll throw with you."
"And I started feeling pretty good," recalled Blanton, who had considered himself happily retired at 34.